Wire marking tool



Oct. l1, 1955 J. M. sHUKAl. 2,720,153

WIRE MARKING TOOL Filed March 26, 19 4 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

Fig.

Joseph VM. `Shuka/ r INVENTOR.

" 42 BY @um Oct. 11, 1955 J. M. sHUKAL 2,720,163

WIRE MARKING TOOL Filed MaI'Ch 26, 1.954 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

wlw I VIN uw' IS'MUIM l0 Joseph M. Shu/ral INVEN TOR.

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United States Patct `2,720,163 wnzn `MARKING rooL Joseph M. Shukal, LosAngeles, Calif. Application March 26, 1954, Serial No. 419,020

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-42) Another object of this invention is to provide awire o marking tool having novel `means for retaining `an inking ribbonin position thereon for engagement with a wire and a type wheel formarking the wire.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wire marking toolhaving a type wheel rotatably mounted thereon which may be set to adesired position and frictionally retained therein.` n

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a wire marking toolwhich is simple and `efficient in construction, and durable and lastingin use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: t

Figure l is a side elevational view of the wire marking tool forming thesubject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the handles for the wire markingtool showing the housing mounted thereon in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the handles for the wire marking tools;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the handle of the wire marking toolwhich supports the housing;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the type wheel used in the wire markingtool;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of a portion of thetype wheel used in the wire marking tool; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the inking ribbon used withthe wire marking tool forming the subject of this invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, it will beseen that the improved wire marking tool forming the subject of thisinvention includes a pair of handles 10 and 12 which are adapted to bepivotally connected together. The handle 10 is formed of a straighthandle portion having a bifurcated end 14. One leg of the bifurcated end14 is provided with an arcuate extension 16. A flange 18 is secured tothe arcuate extension 16 and extends therefrom in a direction away fromthe handle 10.

The handle 12 is formed of a main portion which is adapted to extendparallel to the handle 10 and having a c lCC midportion 20 extending atan angle thereto and passing through the bifurcated end 14 of the handle10. Secured to the other end of the midportion 20 is a jaw portion 22.The jaw portion 22 extends from the midportion 20 in a direction awayfrom the main portion of the handle 12. Thus, it will be seen that theportion 16 of the handle 10 and the portion 22 of handle 12 form thejaws of the device. A suitable fastener 24 is inserted through thebifurcated end 14 of the handle 10 and the midportion 20 of the handle12 for pivotally connecting the handles together.

A housing is adapted to be secured to the arcuate extension 16 of handle10. The housing is formed of a plate 26 having a ange 28 extending fromone side thereof adjacent its periphery. The plate 26 is provided with aflattened portion 30 along a portion of its circumference. The flattenedportion 30 is adapted to lie in a plane forming a continuation of thehandle 10. 'I'he flange 28 is likewise provided with a similar flattenedportion 32 which cuts a portion of the flange 28 so as to form anopening 34 therethrough. Suitable fasteners 36 extend through apertures38 in the flange 18 for securing the plate 26 to the arcuate extension16 of the handle 10. The flange 28 is adapted to extend in a directionoverlying the space between the legs of the bifurcated end 14 of thehandle 10. Secured to the flanges 28 of the plate 26 so as to extend inspaced parallel relation to the plate 26 is a plate 40. The plate 40 isprovided with a ilattened portion42 which is adapted to be positioned inalignment with the flattened portion 30 of the plate 26. Suitablefasteners 44 may be used for securing the plate 40 to the flanges 28.

The plates 26 and 40 are each provided with a central aperture 46 and 48extending therethrough and in alignment with each other. Suitablebearings 50 and 52 are mounted in the apertures 46 and 48. A shaft 54 isadapted to be rotatably mounted in the bearings 50 and 52 with a portionof the shaft extending from the outer face of the plate 26.

A type wheel 56 is adapted to be positioned between the plates 26 and 40and to be xedly secured to the shaft 54 for rotation therewith. Aconventional key 58 may be used for securing the wheel 56 to the shaft54 to prevent the rotation of the wheel 56 with respect to the shaft54.` The wheel 56 is of such a diameter as to have the outer peripherythereof lie closely adjacent the inner periphery of the flange 28.

As seen in Figure 8, the outer circumference of the wheel 56 is providedwith a plurality of radially extending notches 60 extending inwardlyfrom the outer face of the wheel. A suitable marking 62 is located ineach of the notches 60. As seen in Figure l, the plates 26 and 30 areprovided with a notch 64 of similar shape and size to the notches 60 inthe wheel 56. The notch in plate 40 is not shown in the drawings. Thenotches 60 of the wheel 56 are adapted to be selectively placed inregistry with the notches 64 in the plates 26 and. 40. The free end ofthe jaw 22 is adapted to overlie the notches 64 of the plates 26 and 40,whereby a wire 66 may be urged into the aligned notches 64 and 60 forcausing the marking 62 to leave an imprint thereon.

In order to supply ink for marking the wire 66, an ink ribbon 68 isxedly secured to the flange 28 adjacent one side of the opening 34. Theribbon 68 is provided with metal caps 70 at each end thereof, and asuitable fastener 72 is adapted to be inserted through an aperture 74 inone of the caps 70 and into an internally threaded recess 76 in theflange 28. This will xedly secure the one end of the ribbon 68. Theother cap 70 is likewise provided with an aperture 74 extendingtherethrough to which is attached one end of a spring 78; the other endof the spring 78 is attached to a screw 80 which is secured to theflange 28 on the other side of the opening 34. Thus, the ribbon 68 willextend across the opening 34 and when a wire is forced into the alignednotches 60 and 64, the ribbon will be disposed between the marking 62and the wire 66, whereby an imprint will be left on the wire.

In order to provide means for rotating the type wheel 56, a knob 82 isxedly secured to the shaft 54 in spaced relation to the side 26. A`suitable setscrew 84 may be used for securing the knob 82 to the shaft54, Fixedly secured to the outer face of the plate 26 is a ring 86. Thering 86 is provided with suitable indicia 88 thereon and also with aplurality of recesses 90 which are in alignment With each of the indicia88.' kA collar 92 is fixedly secured to the shaft 54 between the knob 82andthe plate 26 by means of suitable setscrew 94. yFixedly secured tothe collar 92 is a pointer 96 which extends radially therefrom and isprovided with a ball 98 secured to the free end thereof. The ball 98 isadapted to be received in a selected one of 'the recesses 90 forpositioning a selected one of the markings '62 in registry with thenotch 64. The pointer v96 is of resilient material so as to urge theball 98 into a recess 90 for frictionally retaining the type wheel 56 inselected position. The pointer is set on `the shaft 54 and the ring 86has the indicia markings 88 thereon in such `a position that when aselected one of the markings 62 is in registry with the notch 64, thepointer will indicate on the ring 86 the correct marking.

In practical use of the device, the pointer 96 is set to a selected oneof the markings 88 on the ring 86. The

corresponding marking 62 will then be in registry with the notch 64.Then a wire is placed between the jaw 22 and the housing formed by theplates 26 and 40 and is urged into the notches l64 and 60 by moving thehandle 12 toward the handle 10. This will cause the ribbon 68 to ex andsubsequent pressure on the handles and 12 will cause the marking 62 toleave an imprint on the wire.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed asnew is as follows:

1. A wire marking tool comprising a pair of pivotally connected handleshaving jaws projecting from their pivot portions, a housing carried byone of said jaws, a type wheel rotatably mounted in said housing, saidtype wheel 'having cylindrically concave indicia markings generallyconforming to the surface of the wire to be marked on thecircumferential face thereof, an opening in said housing facing saidother jaw, means mounted on said housing and connected to said typeWheel for selectively positioning a marking thereon in registry withsaid opening, and inking means mounted on said housing overlying saidopening for marking a wire forced into said opening by said other jaw,said inking means comprising a ribbon xedly secured at one end to thehousing adjacent one side of said opening, said ribbon being resilientlysecured at its other end to said housing adjacent the other side of saidopening.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for selectivelypositioning a marking includes a shaft rotatably mounted on said housingand extending from one side thereof, said type wheel being xedly securedto said shaft and disposed within said housing, and a knob secured tosaid shaft outwardly of said housing for imparting rotation thereto.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said housing is provided withindicia markings on one side thereof adjacent said knob, and a pointersecured to said `shaft for movement therewith and cooperating with .saidindicia to indicate the selected one of the markings of the type wheelwhich is in registry with said opening.

4. The combination of claim 3 whereinsaid housing is provided with aplurality of recesses on the said one side thereof, each of saidrecesses being positioned adjacent one of said indicia markings on saidhousing, said pointer being resilient and provided with a detentengageable in a selected one of said recesses for retaining the typeWheel in selected adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent v l UNITED STATES PATENTS566,059 Bunting Aug. .18, 1896 ,699,795 Eynon May 13, 1902 1,194,245Seward Aug. 8, 1916 1,499,796 Wilkinson July 1, 1924 1,549,784 MiddletonAug. 18, 1925 1,684,038 Long Sept. 11, 1928 1,710,738 La Bon'e Apr. 30,1929 1,727,416 Smith Sept. 10, 1929 1,814,312 Heene July 14, 19311,863,828 Broman June 21, 1932 1,999,647 Atti Apr. 30, 1935 2,179,233Roberts Nov. 7, 1939

